m9-  m> 


ro 


An  Essential  trait  in  tlio    Character 

OF 

JH  Minister  of  the  Gospel  rf  Christ 
"A  FAREWELL   SERMON 

DELIVERED, 


in  the  -Presbyterian  Church   of  Faycttcviilc, 

North-Carolina, 
On  Sunday  the  28th  day  of  February,  1810. 

By  the  Rev.  Jesse  li.  Turner, 
late  Pastor  of  that  Church. 

FAYETTEVILLE,  (N    C.) 
PhINTeJJ   BY    D.    Black, 
1919, 


TO  TEE  HEADER, 

THE  Title  of  the  following  Sermon,  will  sufficiently  explain  the  oc- 
casion on  which  it  was  delivered  ;  and.accoun.  tor  the  peculiar  strain,  in 
which  the  sentiments  contained  in  it  are  conveyed.  Ic  owes  its  appear-* 
ance  before  the  public,  to  the  solicitation  of  its  author's  friends  ;  and 
that  solicitation  hasr  beeri  called  forth,  not  only  by  their'  wish  ±o  retain 
some  memorial  of  a  Pastor  whom  they  loved  ;  but  also,  by  their  anxious 
desire  to  do  justice  to  iiis  character  ;  an  i  to  siie  >ce  the  rash  and  c  jh  ous 
censures  oi'  his  enemies  ;  whose  misrepi;  sentntions  of  this  parting  address 
to  his  flock,  were  likely  to  operate  to  the  injury  of  his  good  name.  A 
friend,  who,  in  the  author's  absence  from  the  press,  superintends  the  pub- 
lication of  the  following  Sermon,  deems  it  proper  to  make  this  state- 
ment, to  satisfy  the  inquiries  of  any,  who  nay  desire  to  know,  why  this 
discourse  was  sent  to  the  press.  May  the  blessing  of  him,  from  whom 
alone  the  increase  must  come,  attend  this  last  public  effort  of  a  faithful 
servant  of  Christ,  lo  do  good  to  the  souls  of  a  people,'  among  whom,  he 
had  laboured,  with  indefatigable  diligence,  for  five  years ;  and  may  the 
perusal  of  the  following  pages  be  found,  abundantly  to  promote  the  spiritu" 
a!  edification  of  ah\  in  whose  hands,  God,  in  his  good  providence,  may 
place  this  production  of  one,  whose  voice,  for  aaght  we  know,  has  been 
heard,  in  this  place,  for  the  last  time. 
Fayetteville,  May  5th  1819. 


A  SERMON 


Acts  XX.  22,  23,  and  24.  "  Asd  npw,  behold,  I  go  bound  in  the  SpiRl 
onto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  befall  me  there  : 

Save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  witnesseth in  every  City,  saying,  that  bonds 
and  afflictions  abide  me. 

But  none  of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count  Imy  life  dear  unto 
myself,  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry, 
which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the  graco 
of  God." 

THESE  words  were  addressed  by  the  Apostle  Paul,  (o  the 
Elders  of  Ephesus.  The  occasion  of  them  was  not  only 
very  interestiug  but  somewhat  singular  :  they  form  a  part  of 
his  parting  or  farewell  address  :— I  have  chosen  thrse  words, 
Brethren,  because  I  consider  my  present  circumstances  some- 
what identified  with  his.  /  too  have  gone  in  and  out  among 
you,  "  serving  the  Lord  with  all  humility  of  mind,  and  with  ma- 
ny tears  and  temptations,  which  befell  me  by  the  lying  in  wait  of 
mine  enemies  2"  And  I  can  say  with  him,  that  "  I  kept  back 
"  nothing  that  was  profitable  unto  you  ;  but  have  shewed  you,  &. 
"taught  you  publicly,  and  from  house  to  house.'*  I  can  also  say, 
"And  now,  behold,  I  know  that  ye  all,  among  whom  I 
"  have  gone  preaching  the  kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no 
limore:%'  I  am,  in  one  word,  about  to  leave  you.  My  minis- 
tratiens,  public  and  private— mycounsels,  admonitions,  expos- 
tulations and  warnings,  are  about  to  cease— and,  as  the  last  ser- 
vice which  I  shall  ever  have  it  in  my  power  to  render  you,  I  arft 
about  to  commit  you  to  the  care  of  the  great  Shepheid  and 
Bishop  of  your  souls.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  words  just 
read  in  your  hearing,  are  remarkably  descriptive  of  my  feelings. 
I  go  away  :  Duty  impels  me  to  the  measure — but  I  must  cast 
"  one  longing,  lingering  look  behind."  My  spirit  is  bound,  be- 
cause I  leave  a  people  for  whom  I  have  prayed,  and  for  whom  I- 
have  laboured  :  I  leave  a  people,  with  whom  "  I  have  taken 
"sweet  counsel"  &  with  whom  I  have  "walked  to  the  house  of 
"God  in  company."  I  leave  a  people,  with  whom  I  have  ap- 
proached the  same  altar ;  and  there,  broke  the  consecrated  bread, 
and  drank  the  consecrated  wine  !  And  how  do  I  leave  you  ?  Un«- 
der  the  care  of  some  man  of  God,  who  will  feel  for  you,  as  I  have 
felt  for  you  ?  Under  the  guidance  of  some  kind  Pastor,  who 
will  defend  you  from  all  your  enemies,  and  feed  you  with  food 
convenient  for  you  ?  No  !  my  Brethren  :  but,  I  leave  you,  as 
"  sheep  without  a  Shepherd,"  or,  as  a  Church  without  a  Pastor. 
I  am,  therefore,  not  only  bound,  but  pained  in  spirit.  In  my 
sympathy  for  you,  I  lose  sight  of  myself—"  the  bonds,  the  ofHi-c- 


(    4   ) 

"  tions"  &  the  trials,-  which  await  me  elsewhere,  disappear  from 
my  view  ;  and  I  feel  disposed  to  pour  forth  my  whole  soul  in 
prayer,  that  these  calamities  may  be  averted,  not  lrom  me,  but 
.jfrajn  you.  There  is,  my  Brethren,  such  a  grandeur  in  the  min- 
i  istry  of  the  gospel — the  design,  the  object,  and  the  end,  are  so 
eublime,  that  the  soul  set  on  fire  by  the  fervour  of  zeal,  ceases 
to  be  concerned  about  self ;  and  looks  only  at  the  great  principle 
of  duty.  In  the  midst  of  bonds,  afflictions,  imprisonments,  and 
deaths— in  the  midst  of  the  rage  of  malice,  and  the  fire  of  perse- 
cution, it  boldly  steps  forth,  and,  in  the  language  of  our  Apostle, 
declares,  "none  of  these  things  move  me  ;  nor  do  I  couut  life 
"  itself  dear  unto  me,  so  that  I  may  finish  my  course  with  joy, 
"  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to 
<*  testify    the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God." 

My  object  at  this  time,  is,  to  shew,  in  as  few  words  as  possible, 
that  it  r^uires  a  no  small  share  of  true  heroism,  first  to  engage 
in  the  Ministry  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  then  to  continue  in  it. 
Having  done  this,  I  shall  proceed  to  some  remarks  adapted  to  the 
present  occasion.  I  am  to  spend  a  few  moments  in  shewing, 
that  it  requires  a  no  small  share  of  true  heroism,  first  to  engage 
in  the  ministry  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  then  to  continue  in  it. 

To  do  this,  it  appears  to  me,  that  I  need  only  direct  you  to 
the  text.  Look  at  the  words  which  have  just  been  read  in  your 
hearing  ;  and  mark  their  import.  "  And  now  behold  I  go  bound 
"  in  spirit  unto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  be- 
<e  fall  me  there :  save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  witnesseth  in  every|city, 
"saying  that  bonds  and  afflictions  abide  me."  Is  it  possible,  that 
the  Apostle,  with  the  full  knowledge  of  these  afflictions,  can  per- 
severe ?  They  have  not  the  least  influence  upon  him — they  no 
more  divert  him  from  his  purpose,  than  the  loose  atom,  floating 
in  the  atmosphere,  can  change  the  course  of  the  sun,  or  defeat 
his  purpose.  But  you  will  say,  that  he  contemplated  these  perils 
at  a  distance  ;  and  therefore  assumed  a  boasted  heroism,  which 
forsook  him,  when  pressed  with  present  danger.  But  let  us 
hear  the  account  which  he  gives  of  himself.  "Of  the  Jews  five 
"  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one.  Thrice  was  I  beaten 
"  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a 
"  night  and  a  day  have  I  been  in  the  deep  ;  in  journeyings  joften, 
"in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own 
"  countrymen,  in  perils  by  the  Heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city, 
"  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among 
"false  Brethren;  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  in  watchings often, 
"in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness." 
Yet  "none  of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life 
"  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy, 
"  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to 
<:  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  " 
These  were  the  afflictions  which  attended  the  ministry  in  the 


(      5       ) 

cariy  ages  of  Christianity — but  besides  these,  there  are  others 
which  attach  to  the  sacred  office,  in  all  ages  of  thejworld.  Per- 
mit me  to  mention,  1st.  That  the  ministry  never  has  been, 
nor  ever  will  be,  the  road  to  wealth  or  preferment.  What,  I 
will  ask,  are  the  great  governing  principles  of  the  world  ?  They 
are,  a  strong  sense  of  interest,  and  ascrupulous  regard  to  policy.; 
Whilst,  therefore,  the  Merchant  grows  rich,  and  even  the  Me- 
chanic talks  of  his  gains— and  whilst  men  of  other  professsions 
are  steadily  walking  in  the  road  of  honor  ;  it  is  no  uncommon 
thing,  for  Ministers,  to  live  poor,  and  to  die  neglected.  And 
besides,  the  means  by  which  they  obtain  bread  for  themselves 
and  their  families,  are  often  humiliating  to  the  very  extreme. 
It  is  a  fact,  which  cannot  be  denied,  that  the  ministry  is  not 
generally  supported,  from  the  influence  of  principle  :  The  peo- 
ple do  not  give  their  money,  feeling  that  their  Minister  has  a 
right  to  it ;  but  they  consider  him  as  an  object  of  public  charity  : 
They  wish  him  to  continue  among  them,  because  he  is  often 
convenient  to  them  ;  and  because' his  office  tends  to  their  respec 
tability  ;  just  as  it  increases  the  pride  of  some  rich  Lord,  to  have 
a  servant  of  superior  order  in  his  retinue  :  but  it  never  occurs-  to 
them,  that  they  are  doing  nothing  more  than  their  duty,  in  con- 
tributing their  full  proportion  to  his  temporal  support :  they 
father  put  this  down,  as  a  work  of  charity. 

And,  as  to  preferment,  what  may  a  Minister  expect  ?  If  he 
receives  common  decency,  and  common  civility*  and  common 
honesty,  at  the  hands  of  the  people,  he  may  even  congratulate 
himself.  I  do  not  speak  Of  all :  I  rejoice  to  say,  there  are  many 
noble  exceptions  to  this  remark: — there  are  many,  who  es- 
teem their  Ministers  very  highly  for  their  work's. sake  ;  But  the 
common  sentiment  among  mankind  is,'1  that,  setting  aside  his 
books,  his  Bible,  and  his  religion,  a  Minister  knows  nothing.—* 
"  He  is  a  good  man,"  say  they  "  but  what  does  he  know  of  the 
"  world,  of  politics,  of  the  relations  of  nations,  or  of  the  great  in- 
"  terests  of  Mankind  '?"  Advice,  or  even  an  opinion,  on  these  sub- 
jects, from  a  Minister,  is  regarded  as  preposterous;  and  treat* 
ed  with  ridicule. 

Now,  what  effect  must  these  things  have  upon  a  generoua 
spirit?  Is  a  Minister  so  different  from  all  the  world,  that  he 
can  embrace  poverty,  for  its  own  native  loveliness  ?  Must  he 
confine  himself  to  the  vale  of  humility,  and  to  the  limits  of  his 
own  Parish,  because  there  is  nothing  in  the  charms  of  fame  to 
allure  him  ?  Must  he  clip  the  wings  of  ambition,  because  he 
does  not  love  to  soar  aloft  ?  what  heroism,  then,  does  it  require, 
to  rise  superior  to  these  things  !  Yes  ;  Brethren  ;— the  Minis- 
ter, must  consider  those  things  small,  which  all  the  world  con- 
sider great — he  must  regard  them  as  base  and  contemptible,  in 
omparison  of  theGospel  of  Christ.    But  Again— ta©  Minis-.. 


I       6       *> 

• 

te*  iius .a  conscience  ;  yes  !,  strange  as  it  may  appear  to  mefny, 
he  has  a  conscience  ;  and,  unfortunately  for  the  people,  lii»  con- 
science is  not  always  made  of  as  pliant  materials  as  they  sup- 
pose it  ought  to  be.  He  is,  in  one  word,  so  superstitious,  as 
to  believe,  that  he  "  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  Man."  JSow 
as  the  Jews  did  not  understand  Peter  and  John  when  they  as- 
serted that  their  conscience  was  in  their  duty,  no  more  cat* 
the  people,  at  this  day,  understand  the  Minister,  when  he 
speaks. of  his  conscience  :  And  what  is  the  ^  consequence  ? 
why,  if  he  fail,  in  one  instance,  to  gratify  their  wishes,  though 
he  does  it  in  terms  the  most  mild  and  conciliating,  yet  theyaic 
offended  ;  and  embrace  every  opportunity  to  express  their  hat- 
red to  him.  The  king  of  Israel,  and  Jehosaphal  king  of  Judah, 
consulted  together,  that  they  might  take  Ramoth  Gilead  in  bat- 
tle:— In  those  days  it  was  customary  to  enquire  of  Prophets,  as 
to  the  success  of  such  enterprises.  Accordingly,  these  kings 
assembled  together  a  large  numberof  Prophets,  about  four  hun- 
dred, and  enquired  of  them.  They  all,  to  a  man,  encouraged 
them  ;  saying"  Go  ufi%  for  the  Lord  hath  delivered  it  into  your 
M  hand" — But,  it  appears,  that  the  king  of  Judah  did  not  give  full 
credit  to  their  testimony  :— for  he  asked  "  Is  there  not  here 
"  a  Prophet  of  the  Lord  besides,  that  we  may  enquire  of  him"? 
"  And  the  king  of  Israel  said,  there  is  one  man,  Micaiah,  the 
"son  of  Imlah,  but  I  hate  him  ;  for  he  doth  not  prophecy  good 
"  of  me,  but  evil."  Neveitheless,  when  Micaiah  is  called  for, 
bow  does  he  act  ?  Does  he  imitate  the  conduct  of  the  400  ?  Does 
he  conciliate  the  favour  of  the  king  at  the  expense  of  his  con- 
science ?  No  !  but  he  has  heroism  enough  to  please  God  rather 
than  Man—"  As  the  Lord  liveth,  what  the  Lord  saith  unto  me, 
«  that  will  I  apeak"— -But 

Lastly — Ministers- have  often  to  groan,  and  to  shed  tears  of 
bitterness,  in  secret,  over  the. hardness  and  stupidity  of  their 
people    You  have  heard  of  the  lamentation  of  Isaiah—."  Behold 

'*'  I  have  laboured  for  nought  :  all  day  long  have  I  stretched  forth 
"my  hand,  to  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.  "You  have  also 
read  the  plaintive  accents  of  the  sorrowing  Jeremiah—"  Oh! 
"  that  mine  head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears, 
"  that  I  might  weep  day  and  night  for  the  slain  of  the  daughters 

' "  of  my  people !  Oh  !  that  I  had  in  the  wilderness  a  lodging  place 

'  •"  of  way-faring  men,  that  I  might  leave  my  people,  and  go  from 
«  them  :  for  they  be  all  adulterers,  an  assembly  of  treacherous 

•  **  men."  And  you  may  suppose  that  these  lamentations  were  con- 
fined to  those  days  ;  but  you  are  greatly  mistaken  :  Ministers 
now  "  wet  their  couch  with  tears"  yea,  "rivers  of  waters, 
"  run  down  their  eyes,  because  men  make  void  the  law  of  God." 
They  go  into  their  pulpit,  and  they  preach  plainly  and  affec- 
tionately: they  shun  not  to  declare  all  the  counsel  of  God. 
They  admonish  and  they*  expostulate :  they   say,  with  tear$j 


'-'  Qii  1  ihat  ifcou  hadst  known,  even  now,  iq  this  thy  day,  the* 
things  that  belong  to  ihy  peace  !*'  but  they  go  from  their  pulpits 
with  a  heavy  heart  ;  and,  at  night,  complain  "  we  have  stretch- 
ed forth  our  hand  all  the  day  long  to  a  disobedient  and  gain- 
saying people."  I  will  also  add,  that  Ministers  groan  under  a 
sense  of  those  corruptions,  which  prevail  in  their  Churches; 
corruptions,  which  they  see,  but  cannot  reform. 

These,  Brethren,  are  some  of  the  afflictions,  which  embitter 
the  life  of  a  Minister  :  I  say,  some  of  them  ;  because,  were  I 
to  detail  the  whole,  I  should  more  than  tire  your  patience.  A 
Minister,  then,  is  not  satisfied,  when  his  people  come  regular- 
ly to  hear  him  preach,  and  as  regularly  pay  him  his  salary  : 
he  watches  for  their  souls  ;  and  nothing*  short  of  this,  will  sa- 
tisfy him  :  Considering,  then,  all  the  afflictions,  the  poverty,  the 
self  denial,  and  the  mortification,  which  a  Minister  has  to  en- 
dure ;  does  it  not  require  a  more  than  ordinary  share  of  true 
heroism  to  say  "  none  ol  these  things  move  me"?  Surely  it  does  ! 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  some  remarks  applicable  to  the 
present  occason. 

Brethern,  my  time  is  very  short  among  you,  so  short,  that  h 
has  dwindled  to  the  merest  9pan — lam  now  rendering  n»y  last 
service  ;  and  that  is  almost  over.  Our  times  ef  meeting  for 
social  converse,  our  opportunities  of  walking  to  the  house  of 
God  in  company,  are  all  past.  I  address  you  for  the  last  time— 
I  see  you  for  the  last  time,  'till  we  shall  meet  at  the  bar  of  our 
common  Judge.  I  therefore  teel  at  a  great  loss,  how  I  can  best 
improve  the  few  remaining  moments — I  have  scarcely  eve», dur- 
ing the  whole  time  of  my  Ministry  among  you,  descended  froia 
the  pulpit,  and  felt  altogether  satisfied  with  the  performance  : 
something  was  faulty,  either  in  the  matter,  or.  the  manner,  and 
often  in  both,  which  was  cause  of  humiliation  when  I  retired  by 
myself;  but  then,  I  comforted  myself  with  the  hope,  that  the 
next  performance  would  be  of  a  better  quality  :  that  hope  can  no 
longer  support  me:  I  am  therefore  exceedingly  anxious  for  tho 
result~Imust,  however,  proceed  to  say   something  :   And 

1st.  I  must  say,  that  it  grieves  me  exceedingly  to  leave  one 
enemy  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  behind.  The  great  object  of 
the  Gospel  Ministry  is  to  persuade  sinnei  s,  in  Christ's  stead,  to  be 
reconciled  to  God  :  this,  I  have  endeavoured,  in  various  ways,  and 
in  many  instances.  I  have  painted  in  your  view,  the  comforts,  tfaej 
exquisite  enjoyments  of  religion.  I  have  described  the  Lord  Jesua 
Christ,  hanging  on  the  Cross ;  and  I  have  used  his  language—- 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  |_ 
"  will  give  you  rest"  I  have  represented  ftiMf  danger,  and  your 
condemnation,  as  sinners,  before  God.  I  have  inferred  you  to  a. 
death-bed  ;  and  depicted  the  horrors  which  await  you 
there.  I  have  also  placed  you  at  the  bar  of  your  God,  and  in- 
sisted upon  the  terror  of  your  sentence.  1  have,  then,  besought 


anil  Ifttreatied  .yous  to  fly  to  the  hopes  set  before  you  in  the  Go> 
pel  of  Christ.  On;some  occasions,  I  have  seen  you  moved.  Like- 
Agrippa,  you  were  ready  to,, exclaim,  "  Almost  thou  persuad 
"  est  me  to  be  a  Christian."  My  hopes  have  been  raised,  and  my 
expectations  were  increased,  almost  to  a  certainty.  But,  what 
bas  been  the  result  of  the  whole  ?  Oh  1  it  pains  toe  to  say,  that 
many  of  you  are  still  aliens  to  the  commonwealth  of  Israel,  and 
strangers  to  the<  covenant  of  promise— still  in  the  gall  of  bitter- 
ness  and  in  ihebonds  of  iniquity.  And  now,  my  friends,  what 
shall  I  say  to  such  of  ypu  as. yet  remain  in  this  unhappy  condi- 
tion :  I  must  not  withhold  the  dreadful  truth  !  You  are  a  hundred 
fold  worse  now,  than  you  were  five  years  ago — -Your  hearts  are 
harder ;  and,  if  possible,  even  more  impenitent.  The  Gospel  ycu 
have  heard — the  invitations  you  have  rejected  —the  priviliges  you 
Jiave  abused-^the  mercies  you  have  contemned — and  the  warn- 
ings, the  reproofs,  and  the  expostulations,  you  have  slighted,  will 
iU  have  a  dreadful  bearing  upon  your  condemnation  :  Your  sins 
Rave  made  youjin  important  creature  in  the  hands  of  God.  Ho 
will  not  overlook  you  in  the  day  of  his  wrath  ;  but  he  will  pro- 
duce you.  as  vessels  fitted  to  destruction*  Let  all  those  who 
Srget  God,  think  on  these  things  least  he  tear  them  in  pieces. 

To  the  Church  I  woula  say,  "  Finally,  Brethren,  farewell :  be 
^perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace,  and 
"  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you"  I  have  preached  to 
you  "  the  unsearchable  riches  that  are  in  Christ.:  To  you,  I  have 
also  dispensed  the  sealing  ordinances  of  God's  house — This  I 
did,  that  I  might  build  you  up  in  the  most  holy  faith  ;and  that 
I  might  present  you  holy  and  unblamable,  at  the  coming  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  without  spot,  or  blemish,  or  any  such  thing  :  Never- 
theless, I  must  say,  in  the  language  of  revelation,  "  1  have  some- 
"  what  against  you  ;  for  I  have  not  found  your  works  perfect  be- 
*' fore  God."  There  has  always  been  in  this  Church,  too  strong 
a  disposition  to  unite  those  things  which  God  hath  declared  se- 
perate:  the  world,  its  policy,  its  maxims,  its  fashions,  and  its 
amusements,  have  entered  too  much  into  your  religion  ;  and 
corrupted  its  holy  simplicity.  You  have  not  come  out  from  the 
world  and  been  separate  ;  and  this,  I  am  persuaded,  has  dono 
you  more  injury,  as  a  Church,  than  the  combined  efforts  of  all 
your  enemies.  And  now,  Brethren,  suffer  the  word  of  exhorta- 
tion, for  a  few  moments.  1  shall  6oon  cease  to  speak  to  you  s  and 
you  will  see  my  face  no  more.  I  would  exhort  you,  then,  for 
the  last  time,  "  be  zealous  and  repent :"  cease  to  corrupt  the 
pure  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Let  the  religion  of  our  blessed 
Jesus,  which  you  have  professed,  be  exhibited,  in  your  lire  and 
conversation,  in  all  its  native  purity.  Depend  upon  it,  the  Ball 
Room,  the  Theatre,  and  the  Card-Table,  are  but  illy  cal" 
cuLied  to  promote  an  increase  of  holiness. 


(       9       ) 

Let  me  also  exhort  you,  to  keep  the  "unity  of  the  spirit  ;in 
the  bond  of 'peace  :  Your  present  situation  calls  loudly  for  the 
most  perfect  unanimity  :    You  are  just  about   to  become  a  va- 

'  cant  people  :  You  will  not,  I  trust,  remain  long  in  this  situa- 
tion :  A  most  delicate  and  important  duty,  therefore, awaits  you: 
You  wilfbe  assembled,  and  your  suffrages  will  be  taken.,  in  the 
choice  of  a  Pastor.  If,  then,  there  be  divisions  among  you  ;  if 
one  declares  himself  for  Paul-— another  for  Apollos,  "a  third  for 
Cephas,  and  a  fourth  for  some  other  man,  the  consequence  will 
be,  that  yoi.i  will  remain  long,  as  sheep'  without  a  'Shepherd. 
Ministers  have  feelings  ;  and  I  am  persuaded',  that  no  man  of 
feaF  worth,  will  take  the  charge  of  yon,  under  these  circumstan- 
ces .And,  in  the  choice  of  a  Minister,  I  would  advise  you,  not  to 
be  too  tenacious',  as  to  his  natural  or  acquired  qualifications.  I 
have  known  many  Ministers  who  could  sing  a  pledsant  song :  and 
they  sung  it  throughout  the  course  of  a  long  life  ;  and  yet,  per- 
haps, could  not  mention  One  individual,  of  whose  conversion 

.  they  had  been  the  instruments.  I  have  also  known  Ministers**  of 
good  sense,  but  of  moderate  acquirements,  who,  by  their  dili- 
gence, their'zealj'andj their  perseverance,  were  made  the  hap- 
py instruments  of  turning  many  to  God.  It  pleases  God,  by 
weak  things,  often  to  confound  the  strong.  If,  therefore,  it 
pleases  God,  to  send  you  a  man  of  plain  sense,  and  of  fervent 
piety— who,  although  he  cannot  flourish  in  all  the  arts  of 
polished  eloquence,  can,  nevertheless,  convince  the  sinner,  and 
direct  the  humble  enquirer  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ—"  receive 
"  such  an  one,  I  say,  and  esteem  him  very  highly  for  his  work's 
"  sake"  I  lay  the  greater  stress  upon  this,  because  there  is  mani- 
festly a  disposition  at  the  present  day,  to  refine  upon  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  gospel.  Our  Saviour  spoke  in  plain  language— 
the  Apostles  used  the  same  strain  ;  and,  whenever  we  attempt  to 
prune  their  discourses,  or  to  polish  their  doctrines*  we  destroy 
their  sublimity  ;  and  reduce  them  to  a  level  with  our  feeble  pro- 
ductions. 

I  must  also  say  a  word  to  the  youth  of  our  congregation;— 
My  dear  friends,  I  have  always  considered  you  as  the  Lambs  of 
my  flock.  I  have,  therefore,  taken  you  into  my^arms  ;  and  cher- 
ished you  in  my  bosom.  I  have  considered  you  as  needing  in- 
struction ;  and  have  therefore,  endeavoured  to  instruct  you.  Be- 
sides my  public  ministrations,  I  have  put  into  your  hands,  the 
best  compends,ofali  the  doctrines  comprised  in  our  holy  rehgion. 
You  know,  that,  although  exhausted  through  the  labors  of  the 
day,  I  have  not  failed  to  give  you  this  separate  instruction. 
Some  of  you,  by  your  diligence,  your  obedience,  and  perseve- 
rance, have  endeared  yourselves  to  me.  f  shall  never  forget 
the  tender  plants  which  I  have  nurtured  with  my  own  hand. 
Hear,  then,  the  voice  of  your  friend  and  instructor.  "  Fear  God" 
'and  keep  his  commandments;  for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man: 


(      to     } 

".—remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth— henar 
"thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the 
."  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  givelh  thee."  Shun  the  paths  of 
pleasureable  sin  ;  for  they  lead  to  hell— Begin  every  day  with 
prayer  ;  and  set  apart  a  certain  portion  of  it,  for  reading  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Thus  will  you  be  a  crown  of  glory  to  your  parents  ; 
and  God  will  bless  you. 

To  the  congregation,  who  have  waited  upon  my  minis- 
try, I  would  also  say  a  few  things.  I  know  that  my  services  a- 
mong  you,  have  been  very  feeble,  and  very  few.  I  Jiave  abundant 
reason  to  humble  myself  before  God,  that  I  have  been  so  cold,  and 
so  negligent.  I,  however,  have  a  consciousness,  that  X  have  not 
"  handled  the  word  of  God  deceitfully:"  I  have  always  endeavour- 
ed to  order  my  ministry  so  that  I  might  say  with  the  Apostle.  "  I 
"  have  not  shunned  to  declare  all  the  counsel  of  God."  And  now 
"  before  God  I  protust— -behold,  I  am  pure  from  the  blood  of 
"  every  man."  There  is  not  one  among  you,  whom  I  have  not 
warned,  and  admonished,  to  flee  from  the  wrath  which  is  to  come. 
If,  therefore,  you  perish,  your  blood  be  upon  your  own  heads. 
I  beseech  you,  Dear  Brethren,  to  lay  it  to  heart,  that  we  shall 
meet  again.  Yes;  Minister  and  people,  shall  stand, lace  to  face, 
at  the  bar  of  our  God.  I,  to  render  an  account  of  my  ministry  ; 
and  you,  to  render  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  you  havo 
improved  it.  May  God,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  grant,  that  we 
may  meet,  with  exceeding  joy  and  gladness  ! 

I  thank  you  for  all  the  kindness  which  you,  have  rendered  me 
and  mine.  May  God  reward  you,  even  for  the  cop  of  cold  wa- 
ter, which  you  have  given  mejin  the  name  of  a  Disciple  !  My 
enemies,  I  forgive  ;  and  I  pray  that  God  may  forgive  them  al- 
so. Nothing  remains,  but  that  I  now  give  you  my  blessing. 
May  God  bless  and  prosper  this  Church  !  May  God  defend  yon 
during  your  -vacancy  !  May  He  send  you  a  Shepherd  after 
his  own  heart !  May  times  of  refreshing  come  from  his  glori- 
ous presence  !  May  all  the  congregation,  and  all  now  present} 
be  blessed  in  time,  and  blessed  in  eternity. 


v 


